By Barb Pert Templeton
The Marine City Commission meeting on June 19 lasted just under 51 minutes and officials moved through quite a few items on a crowded agenda. Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche was absent from the recent meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick served as the chair in the mayor’s absence.
Guy Center pavilion quote okayed
An agenda item seeking the approval of a quote for a new pavilion at the Guy Center was approved by officials. City Manager Michael Reaves said it’s difficult to find a kit for a 30’ by 70’ pavilion because it requires unique engineering related to the cement pilings. He added that funding for the project is tied to a $250,000 grant coming from the Ralph C Wilson Foundation. “I’m feeling very confident that the $250,000 will come through from the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, they’ve worked with me on it, they’ve been out here multiple times, they understand the process and they’ve assigned people to it already so that kind of tells me it’s in the wheelhouse,” Reaves said. A quote for $167,580 from Backyard Living in Richmond for the pavilion was unanimously approved by the commission.
Maritime Days permits approved
A special event permit to host Maritime Days in August was approved by the commission. The 2025 event will begin, on Friday, Aug. 1 at 5 p.m., be held all day Saturday, Aug. 2 and close on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. On Friday there will be fireworks, a lighted boat parade and a hoedown dinner serving pulled pork. On Saturday the schedule has a kids’ day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. all around town including a fishing contest off Water Street, pony rides, a petting zoo and a bounce house just to name a few activities. Sunday’s schedule will include a car show, pancake breakfast with a cocktail competition and a parade.
Commissioner recognizes Juneteenth
Commissioner Sean O’Brien took time during his commissioner privilege to acknowledge Juneteenth, on June 19th, and the importance of the date.
The Marine City Commission meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7 p.m.
“This is one of the most important American holidays and also one of the least recognized,” O’Brien said. “This is the day when really the Civil War comes to a full end, slavery is ended and the union is fully re-formed. This is incredibly important because it decided the direction the United States was going in ever since the end of the Civil War.”
O’Brien said the day is often overlooked and it’s important to celebrate it. He suggested that everyone take some time to reflect on the day and figure out the history behind it. Commissioner Rita Roehrig said she was very familiar with Juneteenth having lived in Texas where it was a big holiday.
Hendrick asks for patience, thanks posters
Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick took time during her commissioner privilege to say she appreciates all the work the city staff is doing including the DPW. She said people really need to be patient with issues that come up with the infrastructure project. It’s important to realize that it seems workers are are finding so many unforeseen things, every time they dig a hole. “I just want to thank our city manager too for going out and trying to put out all the fires every day,” Hendrick said. “I know it’s tough, I know it’s hard and the DPW guys, I know it’s miserable for them too. If people would just give them some space and give them time they are getting there.”
Hendrick also thanked all the people on Facebook that have posted positive comments for the crews working on the project. “We’ve got a whole other year of this so you just have to be patient with it, when it’s done it’s going to be really, really nice,” she added.
